Inground Container Pool: The Look of a Traditional Pool, Built in Days
A fully inground Modpool is indistinguishable from a traditional luxury pool once it is set in place and landscaped. The difference is in how long it takes, how much site disruption is involved, and how much simpler the installation process is for your contractor. Delivered ready to drop in across the USA and Canada.
What Is an Inground Container Pool?
An inground container pool is a Modpool that has been set fully below grade so that the water surface sits at ground level, just like a traditional concrete or gunite pool. Once the pool is placed, backfilled, and landscaped around, there is nothing visible that distinguishes it from a conventional inground pool. The steel shell is below ground. What you see is the water, the coping, and the decking.
The key difference from a traditional inground build is what happens before the pool goes in. With concrete, your contractor spends weeks digging, forming, shooting concrete, curing, tiling, and finishing on-site. With an inground container pool, the pool itself is already complete when it arrives. Your contractor digs the hole, the crane sets the Modpool in, and the utility connections are made. The pool is finished before it ever reaches your property.
Modpools can be installed fully inground, semi-inground (partially buried), or above ground depending on your property and goals. This page focuses on the fully inground option for homeowners who want the classic look of a traditional pool with none of the construction timeline that comes with it.
Back to Shipping Container Pools overview →
Inground Container Pool vs Traditional Inground Pool
Most homeowners researching inground container pools are comparing them directly against concrete or gunite. Both end up in the ground. Both can look indistinguishable from the surface. The differences are in timeline, cost, and what happens on your property during the process.
| Category | Concrete Inground Pool | Modpool Inground |
|---|---|---|
| Build timeline | 3 to 6 months on-site construction | ✓ Days, not months |
| Site disruption | Weeks of crews, equipment and mess | ✓ Days and craned into place |
| Equipment room | Required, separate structure | ✓ Built into the pool |
| Base pool cost | $80,000 to $150,000+ | ✓ From $36,000 USD |
| Specialist pool builder required | Yes | ✓ General Contractor or Landscaper |
| Works on sloped lots | Difficult and expensive | ✓ Yes |
| Year-round swimming | Seasonal in many climates | ✓ Heated, all seasons |
| Relocatable | Permanent | ✓ Can move with you |
Base pool price from $36,000 USD for the 12x8 model. Total project cost including shipping, crane, excavation, site prep, and landscaping varies by property. See our full cost guide for a realistic breakdown.
How Inground Container Pool Installation Works
Modpools does not do installation. Every Modpool ships with a complete Contractor's Package that any qualified general contractor or landscaper can follow. 95% of Modpools are installed by a contractor completing their very first Modpool installation. No specialist pool builder is required, and Modpools is available to support your installer remotely by phone, text, or email throughout the process.
If you need help finding a contractor, Modpools has a network of recommended installers in select areas across the USA and Canada. Email us and we can let you know if there is a trusted installer near you.
Why Homeowners Choose a Fully Inground Container Pool
Once a Modpool is set in the ground and the coping and decking are finished around it, there is nothing about the finished result that reads as a container pool. The water sits at ground level. The steel is below the surface. Guests and family members see a luxury inground pool, not a shipping container.
Traditional inground concrete pools require a dedicated pool builder with specialist crews for each stage of the build. An inground Modpool can be installed by any qualified general contractor or landscaper using the Modpools Contractor's Package. The pool itself is already finished. Your contractor handles the excavation, crane coordination, and utility rough-in, which are standard scopes for any experienced GC.
A typical concrete inground pool involves excavation equipment, concrete trucks, tiling crews, and finishing trades visiting your property over the course of months. With a Modpool inground installation, excavation and site prep typically takes a few days, and the crane placement and connection happen in a single day. You spend a fraction of the time with an unusable backyard.
A concrete inground pool stays in the ground permanently. A Modpool can be craned back out if you ever sell the property and want to take it with you, or relocated if your circumstances change. That is not something any traditional inground pool can offer.
Learn more about Modpool installation →Inground Container Pool Sizes
All six Modpool sizes are available as a fully inground installation. The right size depends on your available space and how you plan to use the pool. Every model is available with optional add-ons including viewing windows, spa sections, swim jets, automatic covers, and Baja shelves.
Inground container pool questions answered.
Design your inground Modpool today.
Pick your size, configure your add-ons, and get an instant quote. No sales call required to get started.